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All about the Carnival Mardi Gras
The Carnival Mardi Gras was built in 2021. It's considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,130 ft long and 137 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 2.6 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 17-story building. The Mardi Gras pays homage to Carnival's first ship, also named the Mardi Gras. It has two unique zones not found on its sister ships: The French Quarter, a New Orleans-themed area, and La Piazza, which is dedicated to the Italian heritage of Carnival cabins.
Carnival Mardi Gras Overview
- Ship and Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Carnival Mardi Gras Size and Passengers
The Mardi Gras can hold 5,282 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Mardi Gras has a space ratio of 35. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship has less space per person than average. The Mardi Gras uses a zone layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.
| Carnival Mardi Gras | |
|---|---|
| Class | Excel |
| Gross Tonnage | 180,800 |
| Length | 1,130 |
| Beam/Width | 137 |
| Passenger Decks | 17 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 5,282 |
| Crew | 1,735 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.6 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 35 |
Carnival Mardi Gras Space Ratio
30
35
52
The Mardi Gras is one of five Excel Class ships currently sailing with Carnival. Excel-class ships are Carnival's newest and largest ships. Some signature features are the LOFT 19 suite area and an exclusive Havana Class of cabins. They're Carnival's first ships that run on LNG, a cleaner burning fuel. They're known for their six-distinct zones, all with a different theme, that make the ship easier to navigate and breaks up the large crowds. The first three ships have the BOLT roller coaster, while the last two feature a Sunsation Point Water Park and family area. The Mardi Gras is very similar to its sister-ships; Celebration, Jubileez, Festivale and Tropicale, although each ship may have some differences.
Carnival Mardi Gras Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Carnival Mardi Gras. You have twenty-two different dining options to choose from. Of those options, fourteen are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other eight options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la carte menu pricing. 64% of the dining options are included which means if you're watching your budget, you won't feel like you're missing out by not going to a lot of extra fee dining places.
| Restaurant | Restaurant Type | Type of Food | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included | |||
| Big Chicken | Quick serve | Chicken | |
| Blue Iguana Cantina | Quick serve | Mexican | |
| ChiBang | Sit down | Mexican / Chinese | |
| Cucina Del Capitano (Excel-ship) | Sit down | Italian | |
| Fresh Creations | Quick serve | Salad | |
| Guy's Burger Joint | Quick serve | American | |
| Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQue | Quick serve | BBQ | |
| Guys Pig and Anchor Smokehouse (Excel-ship) | Sit down | BBQ | |
| Lido Buffet | Buffet | Buffet | |
| Main Dining Room | Sit down | Main dining room | |
| Piazza Panini | Quick serve | Sandwiches | |
| Pizzeria del Capitano | Quick serve | Pizza | |
| Street Eats | Quick serve | Global | |
| Swirls | Quick serve | Dessert | |
| A la carte | |||
| Bonsai Sushi | Sit down | Sushi | |
| Emeril's Bistro 1396 | Sit down | Creole | |
| JavaBlue Cafe | Quick serve | Coffee | |
| Seafood Shack | Quick serve | Seafood | |
| Flat fee | |||
| Bonsai Teppanyaki | Sit down | Asian | |
| Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse | Sit down | Steakhouse | |
| Rudi's Seagrill | Sit down | Seafood | |
| The Chef's Table | Sit down | Gourmet | |
Carnival Mardi Gras Bars and Drinks
Carnival Mardi Gras has 16 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail.
| Bar | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemy Bar | Deck 7 | See Menu |
| Bar Della Rosa | Deck 8 | See Menu |
| Center Stage | Deck 6 | See Menu |
| Fahrenheit 555 Bar | Deck 7 Mid | See Menu |
| Fortune Teller Bar | Deck 6 | See Menu |
| Grand View | Deck 7 | See Menu |
| Guy's Pig and Anchor Brewhouse | Deck 8 | See Menu |
| Havana Bar | Deck 8 | See Menu |
| Java Blue Cafe | Deck 6 | See Menu |
| Piano Bar 88 | Deck 6 | See Menu |
| Punchliner Comedy Club | Deck 6 | See Menu |
| RedFrog Tiki Bar | Deck 16 and 17 | See Menu |
| Serenity Pool Bar | Deck 18 | See Menu |
| The Brass Magnolia | Deck 6 | See Menu |
| The Watering Hole | Deck 8 | See Menu |
| Tides Pool Bar | Deck 16 | See Menu |
Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Carnival also serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship.
Pools and Hot Tubs on Carnival Mardi Gras
Nothing beats relaxing in a pool, cooling off while enjoying the ocean breeze. The Carnival Mardi Gras has a total of six pools and seven hot tubs.
Looking to get away from the kids onboard? Try relaxing in the Serenity Adult-only area, for guests 21 and older only. It's located at the front of the ship, which offers beautiful ocean views but may be more windy than the back. Here, you'll find a dedicated, adult-only, full-depth pool and two hot tubs.
Two of the pools are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.| Carnival Mardi Gras | |
|---|---|
| Total Pools | 6 |
| - Pools - General Access | 3 |
| - Pools - Adults Only | 1 |
| - Pools - Exclusive | 2 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 7 |
| - Hot Tubs - General Access | 5 |
| - Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 |
| - Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Carnival editions with featuring places Pizza Pirate and mini-golf.
Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Carnival Edition
Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Carnival Edition
Carnival Mardi Gras Features and Activities
There are quite a few things to do on the Mardi Gras. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.
| Carnival Mardi Gras | |
|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | Included |
| Arcade | A la carte |
| Basketball | Included |
| Brewery Tour | Flat fee |
| Casino | A la carte |
| Comedy Club | Included |
| Cooking Class | Flat fee |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | A la carte |
| Fitness Center | Included |
| Jogging Track | Included |
| Mini golf | Included |
| Outdoor gym | Included |
| Pool-side Movies | Included |
| Roller Coaster | Flat fee |
| Ropes course | Included |
| Splash park | Included |
| Thermal Suites | Flat fee |
| Water slides | Included |
Carnival is also known for its energetic theme parties which vary per ship.
Cruise Costs
Carnival is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.
The cost will also vary depending on the type of cabin you book. You can see the differences between the Carnival cabins and how to choose the best one here:Carnival Mardi Gras Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Carnival ship.
| Carnival | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% |
| Soda Price | $3.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.75 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $83 - $88 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $18.70 to $23.80 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | |
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